Precast masonry mausoleum



@et i0, i950 J. B. CHI-:EK ET AL.

PREcAsT MAsoNRY` MAusoLEUM Filed Oct. 6, 1947 mgmy 3 wc/Mm; James B.Cheek Dav/'a/ C. {dwars/s Summa/gb Patented Oct. 10, 1950 PRECASTMASONRY MAUSOLEUM James B. Cheek and David C. Edwards, Dallas, Tex.

Application October 6, 1947, Serial No. 778,242

6 Claims. (Cl. I2-7) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in mausoleums.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved mausoleumassembled with individual crypt units so arranged that a group of unitscombine toprovide an additional crypt, thus increasing the capacity ofthe mausoleum and reducing the expense of construction and at the sametime providing a more adaptable structure.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved cryptunit lending itself to ready duplication, whereby the mausoleum may bebuilt of a chosen number of substantially identical units and theadditional crypts obtained by the structure and mounting of said units.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved cryptunit and mausoleum which may be constructed with more or less unskilledlabor, thus making for economy and sim- Y Fig. l is a front elevation ofa portion of a mausoleum constructed in accordance with the inventionwith a portion of the crypt closures omitted,

Fig. 2 is a-fragmentary, transverse, sectional View of the same,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view of themausoleum,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the crypt units, with a portionof an adjacent unit being shown, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of the rear of the mausoleum.

' In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a crypt unit, which may bemade of any suitable material, however Vit is desirable to form the unitas a monolith of a suitable concrete mixture, since such a unit can bereadily and economically formed. The unit comprises an elongate'hollowbody II, preferably rectangular in crosssection and having a top I2,side walls I3,.a rear wall I4 and a floor I 5.

The body has seats or recesses I6 along its upper longitudinal edges,preferably right angular in cross section. The lower longitudinal edgeportions of the body are angular in cross-section so as to engage in theseats I6 of adjacent units. The body has a plurality of vertical ductsI'I embedded in one of the side Walls I3 and not exposed on the interiorof the body, while a similar set of ducts I8 embedded in the other sidewall are exposed to the interior of the body.

In assembling a mausoleum a selected number of units are provided andafter a suitable flat foundation (not shown) is provided, a number ofunits, suiiicient to form the bottom horizontal row are placed on thefoundation. These bottom units are spaced so that when the secondhorizontal row is mounted thereon, the lower longitudinal edges of thesecond row of units will rest in the seats I6 of the bottom row. By thismounting additional or extra crypts I9 are formed between each pair ofunits in each horizontal row. Additional rows are provided in accordancewith the desires of the builder. The front or face of the mausoleumpresents a checker-board design.

The walls of the bodies I I are of such thickness and the seats I6 areof such depth that when the units are mounted upon each other, the doorsE5 of the units are in a horizontal row and will aline with the uppersurfaces of the top walls I2 of the units in the row below and thus,said top walis provide floors for the additional crypts. Each body has avertical groove 20 in each side wall I3 at its rear end for receivingthe tongues of plates 2| which close thev rear ends of the additional Avertical duct 22 extends through the wall I and the rear end of thebody. Each plate 2E has a complementary duct 23 which registers with theducts 22, thus forming continuous vertical Ventilating passages in therear of the mausoleum. Ports 24 admit air to the ducts from the cryptsat the upper portions thereof.

The ducts I'I and I8 terminate short of the bottom `of the body il,while their upper ends extend into the seats I6. When the units areassembled, the ducts Il in a lower roW aline with the ducts I8-in therow above and thus provide vertical Ventilating passages. The ducts IIare exposed in the additional crypts I9, while the ducts I8 areexposedin the units I0.

The ducts I'I and I8 are used to supply air and the ducts 22 and 23exhaust air and gases. By 'using a plurality of inlet ducts, betterventilation is had. We have shown three ducts Il' and three ducts IB.'Ihe ducts I'I are used to supply air to the additional crypts I9 ;vwhile the ducts I8 are employed to admit air to the units I. Byobserving Fig. 2, it will be seen that inlet ports 25 are punched in theducts i8 and inlet ports 26 are punched in the ducts I1. Since threeducts are exposed in each crypt, any exposed duct may be selected and aport punched therein when the crypt is to be placed in use. In thismanner, three consecutive units (vertically) may each be supplied withair from a separate duct; but air circulation to any particular cryptmay be postponed until that crypt is to be placed in use.

When a crypt is placed in use it is customary to seal the open frontthereof and such seal is covered by an ornamental front having doorswhich is not sho-wn, since it forms no part of the invention. In orderto provide for the sealing plates or closures 2, each unit i has agenerally rectangular rib 28 on its front end. As shown, these ribs arenarrow so that the front ends of the unitY walls provide supports foradjacent plates 2'! on each side of each rib.

It is pointed out that a single mold may be used for the crypt units il!and more or less unskilled labor may be employed for molding the units.Since the units may be produced in quantities the cost is reduced and aminimum of time is involved. The assembling of the mausoleum islsubstantially uniform and the average mason can do the work.` Cement orcaulking is used wherever desirable.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In Combination, a plurality of crypt units,

each unit including an elongated hollow body' having a top wall, abottom wall, side walls, and a rear sealing wall, the body beingprovided with recessed seats extending along its upper longitudinaledges, the units being spaced from one another in horizontal rows, theunits of each row being staggered with respect to the units of the,

next lower row, each unit being received and supported upon the recessedseats. of the two adjacent units in the row next below.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the top surface ofthe'top wall of the units in. one row is horizontally alined with thetop sur-` faces of the bottom walls of the units in the row` v unitsbeing spaced from one another inhorizontalY rows, the units of each rowbeing staggered withrespect to the units of the next lower row, eachunit being received and supported upon the recessed seats of the twoadjacent unitsv in the row next below.

fl. In combination, an elongate single crypt having a recessed seat oneach upper longitudinal edge thereof and. a top wall between the seats,

a first pair of upper crypts, the cryptsof saidA first pair beingdisposedon opposite upper sides of said single crypt with a lower`longitudinal edge of each crypt of said iirst pair in engagement with arespective recessed seat of said single crypt, and a second pair oflower crypts, the crypts of said second pair being disposed on oppositelower sides 4 of said single crypt, each crypt of said second pairhaving a recessed seat on each upper longitudinal edge thereof and a topwall between the seats, the lower longitudinal edges of said singlecrypt being received and supported in a recessed seat of each of saidsecond pair of crypts, whereby additional crypt spaces are formed aboveand below and on each sideof said single crypt, each of said cryptscomprising a hollow body having a bottom wall, side walls, a rear wall,and the top wall.

5. In combination, an elongate single crypt having a recessed seat oneach upper longitudinal edge thereof` and a top wall between the seats,a first pair of upper crypts, the crypts of said rst pair being disposedon opposite upper sides of said single crypt with a lower longitudinaledge of each crypt of said rst pair in engagement with a respectiverecessed seat of said single crypt, and a second pair of lower crypts,the crypts of said second pair being disposed on opposite lower sides ofsaid single crypt, each crypt of said second pair having a recessed seaton each upper longitudinal edge thereof and a top wall between theseats, the lower longitudinal edges of said single crypt being receivedand supported in a recessed seat of each of said second pair of crypts,each of said crypts comprising a hollow body having a bottom wall,sidewalls, a' rear sealing wall, and the top wali,-each of the rst pairof crypts having the upper lsurface of their bottom walls horizontallyalined with the upper surface of the top wall of the single crypt, eachof the second pair of crypts having their upper top wall surfaceshorizontally alined with the upper surface of the bottom wall of saidsingle crypt, whereby additional crypt spaces are formed above and belowand on each side of said single crypt.

6. In combination, an elongate single crypt having a recessed seat oneach upper longitudinal edge thereof and a top wall between the seats, arst pair of upper crypts, the orypts of said first pair being disposedon opposite upper sides of said single crypt with a" lower longitudinaledge of each crypt of said rst pair in engagement with arespectiverecessed seat of said single crypt, and a second pair of lower crypts,the crypts of said second pair being Vdisposed on opposite lower sidesof `said single crypt, each' crypt of said second pairghavingareeessedseat on each `upper longitudinalfe'dge thereof anda top wall between theseats, the lower longitudinal edges of said single crypt being receivedand supported'in a recessed seat of each of said second pair of crypts,each of said cr'ypts comprising a hollow body' having a bottom wall,side walls, a rear sealing wall, and the top'wall, whereby additionalcrypt spaces are formed above and below and on each side of said singlecrypt, and closure walls sealing the rear of the so formed additionalcrypt spaces.

JAMES B. CHEEK. DAVID C. EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

Stewart July 18, 1916 McGee v Jan. 1, 1935 Number

